He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20.96 compensation with £15 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Kerry Griebe, said Hedley was identified from CCTV at Home Bargains, St Annes, which showed him taking deodorants and a toiletries gift set, putting them in a bag and walking out without paying.

When interviewed by police Hedley said he could not remember taking the items because he was under the influence of drugs.

At the time of the offence Hedley was the subject of a community order with drug rehabilitation which had been imposed on him three weeks previously.

Leisa Splaine, defending, told the judge that Hedley said his recent run of offences were all due to him funding a drug problem.

• A man caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to a Ford Transit van at St Annes.

She was disqualified from driving for 17 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a police patrol was on The Crescent, St Annes on February 16 at 9.10pm. As the patrol moved off Harker, who was driving a Skoda Citigo on St Davids Road North, failed to stop at a red light and almost collided with the police car.

When stopped Harker told an officer: “Okay, I’m sorry. “I have had a few glasses of wine and I’m guilty.” a breath test showed 69 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had been in abusive relationship and the night of the offence she and her boyfriend had argued.

She had intended sleeping in her car but her boyfriend was adamant he wanted the vehicle moving from his property.